Debt

'Uncle Sam' Actor Is Back -- Pro-Biz Anti-Debt Group Launches New Ad Campaign

Christina Bellantoni | April 29, 2010, 5:09PM

Randolph Bragg, an actor from Northern Virginia, holds a sign as part of a paid stunt done by a group calling itself Defeat the Debt

The pro-business front group that brought fake homeless people to the streets of Washington to highlight the swelling deficit is back today with a $10 million ad campaign, this time showing "Uncle Sam" drowning in debt.

Defeat the Debt's new campaign appeared last night on Seventh Ave. in New York's Times Square, just as thousands of people were marching on Wall Street to call for financial reform. The group, funded by non-disclosed private donations, is calling it the second phase of its deficit education plan. It also will be accompanied by new television commercials and newspaper ads. Readers may remember the campaign paid big bucks for a SuperBowl ad showing children pledging allegiance to China.

"America is drowning in debt," the ads declare as the Uncle Sam actor is shown going under water. It is designed to drive traffic to the Defeat the Debt web site, which shows a ticker of the growing national debt.

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Debt

Pro-Biz Group Pays 'Uncle Sam' To Wander Around DC With Anti-Debt Sign

Christina Bellantoni | October 8, 2009, 12:07PM

Randolph Bragg, an actor from Northern Virginia, holds a sign as part of a paid stunt done by a group calling itself Defeat the Debt

Meet Randolph Bragg, a Northern Virginia actor who was paid $150 to educate the public about the national debt by standing outside the White House in a tattered Uncle Sam costume.

The 17 bearded "Sams" were all over the D.C. area Tuesday, holding signs and handing out fancy brochures sending people to Defeat the Debt to get a handle on "why you should care" about skyrocketing debt. The group also ran a full-page Wall Street Journal ad.

The Employment Policies Institute is behind the effort, which senior research analyst Justin Wilson told TPMDC has cost them "millions" and is funded by private donations.

TPM readers may be familiar with EPI front man Rick Berman, a conservative who is affiliated with tons of groups working to "defeat" various things, including the Employee Free Choice Act.

"People accuse us of being a front group on this issue ... there's no hidden agenda," Wilson said.

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